Russian accused of murder arrested at airport after leaving Puerto Rico courtroom

PR police arrest runaway Russian in homicide case

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Russian man who walked out of a Puerto Rico courtroom before a judge could consider a negligent homicide charge against him has been detained at the airport.

Authorities say Dodik Siyunov was not under guard when he left the court. He was arrested later Friday before boarding a plane at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport.

Prosecutor Ines Escobar says Siyunov’s lawyer told the judge after his 27-year-old client left that he intended to travel back to New York, where he lives.

The judge approved the negligent homicide charge against Siyunov in absentia.

Siyunov is accused of running over a couple in Palmas del Mar on Aug. 10, killing a 21-year-old woman and injuring her 23-year-old husband.

(This version CORRECTS charge in headline to negligent homicide instead of murder.)